It has been 468 days since the first batch of container vans filled with Canadian garbage arrived in the Philippine port... by any standard that is a long and slow process of recalling any contraband from one port area to another. The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines has been very quiet about the issue, more of apathy, I guess. In my opinion, that is a BLATANT VIOLATION OF BASEL CONVENTION. 16 container vans filled with garbage mostly consisting of community wastes are now in danger of being permanently disposed in our soil. YES, THE IMPORTED CANADIAN GARBAGE ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED TO BE DUMPED IN OUR LAND. The letter of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) to their Canadian counterpart Ministry of Environment Canada, dated July 17, 2014 REMAINED UNANSWERED. The Minister of Canada Hon. Leona Aglukkaq NEVER RESPONDED TO THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO HER. Despite the assurance of the Canadian Embassy that they will help look into the matter, no effort has been done to bring back the container vans back to Canada. In an effort to revive the issue and gain public awareness, environmental groups Greenpeace, Ecowaste Coalition, Ban Toxics, Mother Earth Foundation, Green Convergence, and public health advocates ANG NARS, PSLINK and Ateneo School of Government gathered for a media forum on October 9, 2014 to expose the plan to dispose the Canadian garbage in the Philippine soil. Below are the links to the media forum. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/groups-slam-government-plan-to-dispose-of-canadian-toxic-garbage-in-phl/ (pasted below) http://globalnation.inquirer.net/112271/eco-groups-slam-plans-to-dispose-of-canada-wastes-in-philippine-soil http://www.manilatimes.net/groups-say-govt-lenient-toxic-waste-dumping/133158/ http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/are-we-going-be-stuck-waste-shipment-canada http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/220918/balitanghali/iba-t-ibang-grupo-nanawagang-ibalik-ang-50-container-vans-na-may-laman-umanong-basura-sa-canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqnTyNQuEM8 http://www.interaksyon.com/article/96991/groups-call-for-re-export-of-waste-filled-container-vans-to-canada http://lightnetwork.ph/basura-mula-canada-na-nakatengga-sa-mga-daungan-sa-pilipinas-kinondena-ng-mga-environmental-groups/ http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/green-groups-pull-up-environment-agency-1.1396349 https://www.facebook.com/ANGNARSpartylist/photos/a.343170649197959.1073741894.180699158778443/343168439198180/?type=1&theater 468 days has passed. Our government has incurred losses of Ph P67,316,480 or $1,688,438.92 in Canadian currency. We will not stop counting and calculating until the Canadian Embassy owns up to its responsibility of picking up the Canadian garbage. From this day on, we will launch a count down to 500 days. We will be more aggressive and vigilant in this campaign. We will involve all levels of government and all avenues for lobbying. We hope that this will help facilitate steps that will be instituted to resolve the issue. We reiterate "PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE CANADA. GIVE US THE DECENCY AND RESPECT WE SO DESERVE AS A NATION. WE LIVE IN A CIVILISED WORLD WHERE PEOPLE MAKE RULES AND FOLLOW RULES. DO YOUR SHARE AS A SIGNATORY TO THE BASEL CONVENTION. MY HOME LAND IS NOT YOUR GARBAGE BIN"